St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-11
THEKANAKAS KINGDOM.
Some Timely Information sueees'eo ~
Queen Kapiolani's Visit.


Queen Kapiolani's visit.
The visit of Queen Kapiolani to this coun-
trv recalls the fact that there's such a country
as Hawaii, and that it IS lnoulsiiis III ''''
luxury of royal family.
1t also creates demand fora collsls'liiei'
of knowledge respecting 1t.
The kingdom is composed OF tWelVe iSi"l'o'
which lie IN adampspot fthe Pacihc ocean"
Only seven are inhabited, as the remaining
five have never been cut up into pullolhs
lots.
Although there is nothing IN progress
which might be called boom there ~
considerable movement in real estate IN 'he
Sandwich Islands.
The movement is caused by earthquakes
which frequently congregate there to hoid
picnic, attracted doubtless by the deluslVe
name of the kingdom.
A mariner by the name OF Oaetaho lan
against one of these islands in the oark III
1912, and the Spaniards were acqualnteu, Will
their location hundred years or thereaoou.s
after; but the claim for their discovery ls
made in behalf of Captain Cook, who col'
lided with them in 1878.
This claim amused the natives greatly, 1or
they had an idea that the group was olsco'-
cred some time previous.
"If not" they asked, chow did we get
here?"
In fact, the natives rather inclined TO the
belief that they had discovered captain
Cook. Imbued with this idea they invited
him to dinner but as they utilized hlm IN
the CAPACITY of viands he did not enter INTO
hearty enjoyment of the meal.
twas then the natives discovered hlm-to
be good eating.
From this incident you will have gathered
that when first visited by Europeans the
natives had an annoying habit OF roasuhg
people and eating them.
| This practice has been abandoned, how.
| ever, and now it is practically Impossible 10
! secure plate of broled man at kanaka
! hotel. even the canned supply having be-
/ come exhausted.
The climate is one promotlve OF lazlness,
owing to the large amount OF calorlc Whlcn
saturates the atmosphere in the vicinity OF
the islands. As consequence there isn't
much activity there, except that displayed
by the volcanoes.
One Of these-Mauna Loa-is 13, 76O feet in
altitude.
Volcanoes come high, but the Sandwich
Islanders must have them.
Mauna Loa ought to be called Mauna
Hier.
The subjects of conversation are very Inn
tied in Hawaii, for the reason that there is
no weather there, owing to the monotony OF
the climate If any weather should be in
troduced it would be necessary to import
name for 1t, as the Kanaka language con-
tains no such word at present.
Of course large alphabet is not needed
where conversation is so abbreviated, and
the Hawaiian A B is consequently an eco
nomical affair The American missionaries
found twelve characters sufficient to supply
the native craving for letters.
They are: AEIO U H X L NJ W.
sthe kanakas spell Poi with their alpha
bel, it answers every purpose.
The Sandwich Islanders wear more clothes
now than formerly. The ladies used to carry
the decollete idea to extremes, full dress
consisting of only bark passamenterie or
something around their waists. With civil
ization. however, spring bonnets, silk dresses
and measles appeared, and the population is
gradually dying off.
The inhabitants are quite civilized now,
having commenced to borrow money.
The monarch business is not so profitable
in Hawaii as in Europe. The King receives
only SO 500 a year wages, and has to board
himself.
Like the desert, the Hawaiian kingdom is
noted for the Sandwich is there. This alb
struse remark may be explained by the sug'
gestion that sugar is the principal product OF
the islands.
The other leading productions are lava and
leprosy, for which there is no foreign de
mand. MM ii. SIVITER.